Install Vocola

Follow the instructions on this page to install or upgrade to Vocola 2.6 with Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 or later.
Use these more complicated and general instructions instead for earlier versions of Vocola or Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

See below to upgrade from an earlier version of Vocola.

Installing Vocola 2.6 for the first time

1. Install Dragon NaturallySpeaking, version 8 or later, any edition (if not already installed).
    
2. Install Python, version 2.3.X (if not already installed). Note: this is an older version; newer versions will not work.
    
3. Install NatLink using Scott Weinstein's installer version 1.5.0 (called NatPython 1.5.0 there). This also installs Vocola 2.5. Do not change the location where NatLink is installed.
    
4. Delete C:\Program Files\NatLink\Vocola.
      
5. Download Vocola-2-6.zip then extract it into C:\Program Files\NatLink.
    
6. From the C:\Program Files\NatLink\Vocola\Exec folder, copy the file _vocola_main.py to the C:\Program Files\NatLink\MacroSystem folder.
    
7. From the C:\Program Files\NatLink\Vocola\Exec folder, copy the file VocolaUtils.py to the C:\Program Files\NatLink\MacroSystem\Core folder. Both this copy and that of step 6 should replace existing files.
    
8. Restart Dragon NaturallySpeaking
    
9. Associate the .vcl file extension (used for Vocola command files) with your favorite text editor. This allows you to open your Vocola files using built-in voice commands. An easy way to set up this association is to right-click on any .vcl file (such as C:\Program Files\NatLink\Vocola\Samples\notepad.vcl), select "Open With" or "Open", and pick your favorite text editor (for example, Notepad).
   
   Note that Scott's installer associates the .vcl file extension with the free editor Notepad2, which it also installs.
   
   Emacs users should install gnuserv and associate the .vcl file extension with gnuclientw.exe. (Make sure the directory containing gnuclientw.exe is included in your PATH environment variable.)
    
10. Test Vocola. 
    1. Copy the sample command file for Notepad (C:\Program Files\NatLink\Vocola\Samples\notepad.vcl) to the <My Documents>\NatLink\Vocola folder. (In Vista, use the alternative folder C:\Program Files\NatLink\Vocola\Commands instead for now.)  
    2. Say "Start Notepad" to launch Notepad.
    3. Say "Test Simple Command". The phrase "It works!" should appear.
    4. Say "Edit Voice Commands". Your copy of notepad.vcl should be opened using the editor you picked in step 5.
    5. Change the "Test Simple Command" command to type "It really works!"
    6. Save the file, say "Switch to Notepad", and say "Test Simple Command". "It really works!" should appear.

Upgrading from an Earlier Version of Vocola to Vocola 2.6

1. Locate where NatLink is installed. You're looking for a directory named NatLink containing a subdirectory named MacroSystem. Most likely C:\NatLink or C:\Program Files\NatLink. These instructions will refer to that directory by <NatLink>.
    
2. Make a backup copy of your command files (located in <NatLink>\Vocola\Commands and possibly <My Documents>\NatLink\Vocola as well).  
      
3. Rename <NatLink>\Vocola to <NatLink>\Vocola.old. (Remove <NatLink>\Vocola.old first if it already exists.)
    
4. Download Vocola-2-6.zip.
    
5. Exit Dragon NaturallySpeaking if it is running.
    
6. Extract the Vocola zip file into <NatLink>. For example, if NatLink is installed in C:\NatLink, you should choose C:\NatLink as the folder to extract to. After unpacking you should see folder <NatLink>\Vocola, with subfolders Commands, Doc, Exec, Samples, and Simpscrp.
    
7. From the <NatLink>\Vocola\Exec folder, copy the file _vocola_main.py to the <NatLink>\MacroSystem folder.
    
8. From the <NatLink>\Vocola\Exec folder, copy the file VocolaUtils.py to the <NatLink>\MacroSystem\Core folder if it exists or <NatLink>\MacroSystem if it doesn't. Both this copy and that of step 7 should replace existing files.
    
9. Copy all files from <NatLink>\Vocola.old\Commands to <NatLink>\Vocola\Commands.
    
10. Restart Dragon NaturallySpeaking